The distinctive shape of the breadfruit leaf, or ulu, as well as its round, starchy fruit are icons of Polynesia.

Photo: Tor Johnson, HTA

The distinctive shape of the breadfruit leaf, or ulu, as well as...

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The ulu (breadfruit) has inspired several prints by Sig Zane, such as the Uluwehi Keaukaha pattern on these boardshorts. Zane considers the design to be a symbol of the beauty of the Keaukaha area of Hilo, where the his wife's family is from.

Photo: Courtesy Sig Zane

The ulu (breadfruit) has inspired several prints by Sig Zane, such...

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Torch-like ti plants, brought to Hawaii by the first Polynesian settlers, grow among ginger and monstera at the base of a banyan tree.

Photo: Tor Johnson, HTA

Torch-like ti plants, brought to Hawaii by the first Polynesian...

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Ipu, or gourds, grow on the grounds of 'Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. Polynesian navigators would use the gourds on their canoes for bailing as well as food bowls and containers.

Photo: 'Imiloa Astronomy Center

Ipu, or gourds, grow on the grounds of 'Imiloa Astronomy Center in...

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The Kiawe'ula print by Hilo designer Sig Zane depicts the ti ("ki" in Hawaiian) plants that often grow at the base of waterfalls. Polynesian voyagers brought ti to the islands for its many uses, including food, roof thatching, clothing and healing.

Photo: Courtesy Sig Zane

The Kiawe'ula print by Hilo designer Sig Zane depicts the ti ("ki"...

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The maple-like leaves of kukui are traditionally used as poultices while the oily kernels of the green nuts (technically seeds) can be used as candles, hence the English name candlenut.

Photo: Tor Johnson, HTA

The maple-like leaves of kukui are traditionally used as poultices...

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The Kukuihou print on Hilo designer Sig Zane's pullover aloha shirt celebrates the kukui, or candlenut, tree. All parts of the state tree have traditional uses, from the trunk, branches and nuts to the leaves, which can serve as medicinal compresses.

Hilo means "braided," among other definitions, and it's hard to think of any artist as intertwined with Hilo as designer Sig Zane. Inspired by Hawaii's lush foliage as well as its rich cultural legacy, Zane creates bold graphics adorning clothing and accessories that have made his store in downtown Hilo a landmark since 1985.

Zane, an Oahu native and third-generation Chinese American, moved to Hilo in the mid-'70s to study Hawaiian culture, deepening his understanding of the traditional uses for the islands' unique flora. He also studied hula and eventually married Nalani Kanaka'ole, whose family is practically synonymous with the art form: The Edith Kanaka'ole Stadium in Hilo, named after her mother, hosts the islands' most prestigious hula competition, the annual Merrie Monarch Festival.

With the start this week of United/Continental's nonstop service to Hilo — weekly from San Francisco and daily from Los Angeles — it should be a little easier for more visitors to make their way to Zane's store, as well as the many other highlights of the second largest city in Hawai'i. Those include the gleaming 'Imiloa Astronomy Center, which recently added a Native Hawaiian garden and expanded cultural workshops involving plants to its exhibits exploring modern science and traditional Hawaiian practices.

But whether you're headed to Hilo or elsewhere in the islands, it's good to know something about the greenery that inspires so many songs and stories, as well as Sig Zane. I recently asked him to choose five signature plants of the islands — whether endemic, indigenous or brought by Polynesian voyagers — that every visitor should know. Check out the photo gallery for pictures of these plants, found at 'Imiloa and many other sites in Hilo, as well as a few of the Sig Zane designs they've inspired.

Kalo

Taro — kalo in Hawaiian — "is honored and respected as the older brother of all Hawaiians," notes Zane. "The corm is the symbol of the family as the shoots represents the next generation." (The word for family, 'ohana, refers to the corm, or 'ohā, that springs from the older root.)

And while some visitors may now that the taro corm is the source of poi, they might not know that another dish involving taro tops is what gave the luau its name. "The youngest leaves make the best lū'au," says Zane, referring to the stew of coconut cream, taro tops and chicken or octopus, "and the mature leaves, when wrapped and cooked with pork, is the complete meal: the laulau."

Ulu

Known in English as breadfruit, the ulu entranced Captain Cook when Tahitians introduced him to its starchy produce. The fruit is traditionally eaten steamed or cooked in an imu (underground oven), Zane noted, but ulu is more than just food: "The iconic leaf (is) a symbol of Polynesia … and a metaphor, 'to grow.' It's a very meaningful plant to give to a child on his first birthday."

Zane has based several designs on breadfruit over the years. One currently in production, Uluwehi Keaukaha (literally, "decorated Keaukaha"), also pays tribute to the Hawaiian Homestead land of the Kanaka'ole family in the Keaukaha area of Hilo.

Kukui

It's no wonder that kukui, or candlenut, is the state tree, given the numerous ways Native Hawaiians found to use all its parts as well as the beauty of its silver-green leaves. Visitors will see polished kukui nut lei in gift shops or hanging over rear-view mirrors (let's not talk about the garishly dyed ones), but may not know that these nuts from the tree of "enlightenment," as Zane calls it, are also "the main ingredient for the delicious relish" known as 'inamona, or that the oil from the nuts is "the best for skin care, especially after a day at the beach."

On the ornamental side, "the leaves and flowers make a beautiful lei that often is used to represent the island of Moloka'i," Zane notes. One of Zane's very first textile graphics was a band of kukui leaves for a pareu (sarong) for his wife; the current version, Kukuihou, bedecks a pullover aloha shirt.

Loulu

Everyone should be familiar with Hawaii's swaying coconut palms, which like the taro plant, breadfruit and kukui trees were brought to the islands in the first settlers' outrigger canoes (hence the term "canoe plants.") Loulu, however, is "the only native palm found in our islands," says Zane. "The fronds were used widely in the old days," woven into items such as hats.

"Weavings were very valuable because of its intricate qualities. Woven in strips often at 1/16”, the hats were treasures handed down through generations," he adds.

"The loulu is "quite prominent" at 'Imiloa, Zane notes. "That's one of the best places to enjoy the study (of it). Walking the grounds really offers a close-up and they can top it off with a great lunch." (The Sky Garden Restaurant was also one of the Hilo highlights mentioned in my earlier Aloha Friday column.)

Ti

"This plant is full of mana and is prized by Hawaiians," says Zane, who as with kukui first used a design inspired by ti (ki in Hawaiian) for a pareu, in this case back in 1997. His current design, found on aloha shirts and dresses, represents the leaves growing at the base of a waterfall, according to his Web site. "The plants tend to 'cling' to the cliff around the pool, and it is this view that is so calming."

The name of the design, Kiawe'ula, means "faint red streak," as you would see in a rainbow, and reflects the popularity of ornamental red ti, "a favorite plant, for it is a highlight of any garden." But Native Hawaiians planted the green ti — another canoe plant — for many reasons besides its beauty, Zane notes. "One of the most useful plants in our islands, the ti leaf plant has always conjured images of being at home," Zane says. "Island homes are usually surrounded by these green plants for they are our medicine, our clothing, footwear, our lei — and we cook with it!"